Simple Homemade Birdbath

This homemade birdbath is easy enough for anyone to make, and inexpensive too!

By Daisy Siskin

To attract birds this spring, I wanted to add another birdbath to my backyard. But like a lot of things, finding a birdbath that fits the bill and doesn’t break the bank isn’t as easy as it seems. I knew what I wanted: something easy to clean, affordable, distinctive and attractive. What I decided on is a simple and versatile homemade birdbath anyone can make.

Materials:

Basin (preferably one with sloping sides, maximum depth of 3 in. and a textured surface for good footing)

Hammer or mallet

Piece of scrap wood

Step-By-Step Instructions:

Step 1

Cut the rods to the needed length, depending on how deep you need to sink them in the ground for stability. If you have loose, sandy soil, you will need to sink them deeper than if the ground is hard clay. I found the right length to be about 3 ft.

Step 2

Paint the rods. If you’re using metal conduit, be sure to wash them with a degreasing detergent to remove any oil and grime from manufacturing. Allow to dry completely.

Step 3

Choose the location of your birdbath. A shady spot with nearby shrubs or trees for safe cover is ideal. For maximum enjoyment, make sure you’ll be able to see the bath from your favorite bird-watching window.

Pound the rods into the ground in triangle formation to provide a stable base. The size of your chosen basin will determine the distance between rods.

Step 4

Place the basin on top of the rods. Fill the bowl with water and check to see if the base is level. If not, adjust the depth of the rods until the water is level. Place a stone or two in the water to provide an extra perch for birds and hold the bowl in place. Don’t forget to clean and fill your homemade birdbath regularly!

Christa,
I find random dishes like this at yard sales and thrift stores …sometimes for as low as 10 cents. It doesn’t have to look like a flower. Just whatever you think is pretty, compliments or perks up your backyard decor. Have fun!

Please Please. ..what is the name of this fern….Had my Mom’s after she passed….lost it in cold…have looked one everywhere and cant find it….if I have the name I might have better luck finding one…Thanka

“Choose the location of your bird bath. A shady spot with nearby shrubs or trees for safe cover is ideal.” Ms. Siskin, I love your simple idea, but I HIGHLY disagree with your choice of location. Place bird baths should be placed in sunny locations, and one should never surround a bird bath with shrubs! Bird baths should be out in the open — otherwise cats can hide in the surrounding foliage and kill the visiting birds, and a shady location is more likely to create mold and mildew in the bath.

Though I don’t like to advertise for a company, I did find a combination feeder and water station at Lowes. It is made of plastic and cedar. It seems to work fine except for those pesky grackles that chase the other birds away. It is hanging under a pergola so the neighborhood cats can’t can’t get a free lunch.

That looks awfully large to be called “dishes”, yet you say its a basin. I’m trying to find something to form a cement basin for the base that has been here since I moved in (almost 5 years). It’s quite a large pedestal, probably 1′ across the top. Do you have any ideas for that?